CONNECTIONS QUARTERLY FALL 2020
WELCOME
TRAUMA-INFORMED EDUCATION
As I think about trauma , I recall the only thing I remember from kindergarten ... while
sitting in class , suddenly without any warning , I heard the loudest sound I had ever heard before , then my teacher ’ s face looked freighted . She told us there was a fire and we needed to get out quickly . Experiencing an announced fire alarm is not thought of as a traumatic event , but for me it was . For some time after I didn ’ t want to go to school and didn ’ t feel comfortable while I was there . While not the official definition , I think of trauma as a negative experience that has a long-lasting impact , individually or collectively . As we look online or in-person at our school communities , most , if not all , are experiencing some level of trauma . Some trauma we might be aware of : a missed graduation , being isolated from peers . Some we may not : being stopped by the police , hearing a gay joke . This edition of Connections provides some thoughts around how to deal with the impact of trauma of all kinds in our communities . •
Bob Mattingly , Executive Director of CSEE
As CSEE considered how we can serve our common efforts to further racial justice in our schools and in our country , we agreed that we need to hear more from people of color . Part of this effort will include Connections book reviews this year , which will be from educators of color reviewing texts from their various perspectives . We are grateful for the contributions of these writers .
CSEE Connections Fall 2020 Page 1